The Scottish Government has instructed health inspectors to work closely with north-east health bosses to address hygiene concerns at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital.
First Minister Alex Salmond said his administration took action following the publication of a damning report which revealed evidence of blood-stained equipment and dirty wards. The Aberdeenshire East MSP said hygiene standards at the facility were “unacceptable”. Mr Salmond said all patients and parents of newborn babies “deserve to have confidence in the cleanliness of wards and the quality of their care”.
“Health Protection Scotland will begin a visit to Aberdeen Maternity Hospital to determine how these failures occurred,” he added.
“They will co-ordinate support for NHS Grampian to quickly rectify the problems identified, and to ensure that systems are put in place by NHS Grampian so that these events are never repeated.” Officials on three unannounced visits to what is the north-east’s flagship maternity hospital found “significant” issues with the neonatal unit, operating theatre and procedure room.
Among the failings identified were bodily fluids on walls, blood on bed rails, frames and mattresses, dust on ventilators and contamination to incubators and cots.
NHS Grampian’s board is due to discuss the Health Care Inspectorate’s report at a meeting tomorrow.
Margaret Watt, chairwoman of Scotland Patients Association, urged it to “get its act together” and called on chief executive, Richard Carey, to resign.
Aberdeen South and North Kincardine SNP MSP Maureen Watt said the situation at the hospital was a “cause for real concern”. She added: “I welcome the Scottish Government’s reassurance that they will act promptly to help NHS Grampian and so alleviate the fears of new mothers and their families.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said health inspectors visited Aberdeen on Friday to discuss the situation but did not inspect the hospital.
“We are working closely with Health Protection Scotland to ensure the action plan we have in place will address the issues raised by the report,” she added.